USC, serving the second year of a two-year bowl ban, is No. 25. The Trojans are ineligible for the USA Today coaches' poll and this year's Bowl Championship Series standings.

The AP poll, however, allows schools on probation to appear in its poll. The AP is no longer part of the BCS formula but has always crowned an independent champion. USC, under Pete Carroll, won the AP national titles in 2003 and 2004. The BCS stripped USC of the 2004 crown, but the AP allowed USC to remain its champion.

Notre Dame, at No. 16, is ranked for the first time since early November of 2009. Texas, which finished 5-7 last season, is not ranked in the preseason AP poll for the first time since 1998, Coach Mack Brown's first season.

The Southeastern Conference leads the way with eight schools in the top 25. West Virginia, at No. 24, is the only Big East school represented.

Defending champion Auburn, which started No. 22 last year, opens at No. 23. Don't look for the Tigers to repeat this year, as they must face all seven other SEC schools ranked in the preseason top 25.